At the first-ever Latin America SABRE Conference and Awards ceremony in São Paulo, Brazil, S2Publicom Weber Shandwick earned top honors for Brazilian Agency of the Year in addition to two awards for its innovative client campaigns. CEO Andy Polansky opened the day-long SABRE conference with a keynote speech about the opportunity for the public relations industry in Latin America and around the world. Laura Schoen, chair of Latin America and president of Weber Shandwick’s Global Healthcare practice, also participated in a panel discussion focused on achieving gender equality in the communications industry.

In naming S2Publicom Weber Shandwick Brazilian Agency of the Year, The Holmes Report recognized its strong performance in the market under the leadership of Laura Schoen and S2Publicom Weber Shandwick CEO Ze Schiavoni. The publication also highlighted the firm’s success in “establishing itself as a center of innovation, with strong digital, social and content creation capabilities.”

In addition to the Agency of the Year honor, the firm was also recognized at the SABRE Awards ceremony for its leading client campaigns. In partnership with Turner Broadcasting, S2Publicom Weber Shandwick won the SABRE Award in the research and planning category for the TNT Oscar campaign. The firm also earned a SABRE in the technology category for the Democratizing Virtual Reality in Brazil campaign with Beenoculus Technology.

During his presentation at the Latin America SABRE Conference, CEO Andy Polansky discussed bright spots for Brazil’s PR sector. He pointed to the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership, growing multinational interest in the region and the recognition that firms from across Latin America are receiving in the creative space. He also noted the shift taking place across communications channels, emphasizing the growing importance of digital and social media. Details on his presentation can be found in The Holmes Report.

“Not only are we playing a bigger role in marketing strategies for our clients, but we’re also representing organizations on issues that influence society as a whole.”

– Andy Polansky, CEO, Weber Shandwick

Later in the day, Laura Schoen shared the stage with Yara Baxter, corporate communication and social responsibility director, Novartis Brazil and Giselle Lorenzetti, president of ABRACOM and owner of LVBA, for a conversation about gender equality and increasing opportunities for female executives in the industry. She discussed why gender equality in communications is an international issue and strategies companies can take to make progress.

Weber Shandwick has witnessed tremendous growth in Brazil since its acquisition of S2Publicom in 2011. Last month, the firm opened an office in Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, expanding its network in the country, including offices in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Alphaville, in addition to a growing presence across the Latin American region, which includes an office in Mexico City and affiliate partners in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. In 2015, S2Publicom Weber Shandwick was named Communications Agency of the Year in Brazil by the Comunique-se Awards and a Mega TOP 10 Brazil Communications Agency.